Villagers have been promised they will be directly involved in the regeneration of Princetown as the Prince of Wales visits today (Tuesday, September 15) to endorse a major investment in their future.

The Prince is due to visit a village business and youth club to see progress made under early investment by the Duchy of Cornwall Estate, of which he is the head as the Duke of Cornwall.

He is visiting the moorland village to launch the new Princetown Community Fund. The fund will make at least £250,000 available to support locally-led projects delivering social, economic and environmental benefits for the community.

Emma Magee, Duchy of Cornwall head of communities and nature, said: “Princetown has a very strong social and economic community with a strong identity based on its geography, history and active working population.

“The Duchy has been working very closely with businesses, community leaders and residents on their priorities for creating a sustainable future for the whole community and this investment will help grow this vision as it continues to develop.

“We are committed to building the foundations for a thriving partnership which reflects what people themselves have identified as the key to their future.”

The community fund is coming from the £1.5 million per annum which the Duchy of Cornwall is redirecting to help the community.

This is the amount the Duchy receives in rent from the Ministry of Justice for the Dartmoor Prison site each year.

Prince William has decided to reinvest this income into the local community rather than keeping it himself, in recognition of the impact of the prison closure on Princetown’s residents and businesses.

As part of the wider investment, the Duchy is launching the community-led regeneration fund, managed in partnership with the community and focused on delivering long-term social, economic and environmental benefits, from supporting community facilities and local businesses to nature recovery across the area.

Jim McNeill, the owner of Princetown outdoor clothing business Basecamp, said: "I think it's a fantastic opportunity to elevate Princetown back to the wonderful village it once was.”

Jim, also an environmental explorer and campaigner, added: “Also, the ongoing commitment and investment from The Duchy of Cornwall should ensure that Princetown stays as the adventure hub and heart of Dartmoor it should be. It's fabulous news."